By The party guests arrange themselves for a group
photo with the birthday girl at the centre.
She watches us position ourselves – some
on the sofa, some on the floor in front,
some standing behind – then runs to the tripod
and presses the remote… After the guests have gone,
she draws her first spiral – clockwise, perfect,
a spira mirabilis – then carries
her Pooh balloon around the room, requesting
Postman Pat… She hides under her special
blanket. ‘Where is she?’ we chorus. ‘Has she
gone to the river to feed the ducks?’ ‘No,’
she answers, muffled but unequivocal…
Next day, she goes to see the butterflies
in The Glasshouse – each larger than her hands splayed…
Later, she watches a pair of blue tits
begin to occupy the nesting box
on the sycamore though cold winds blow
and there are ten more weeks of winter…
Wonder jostles wonder. Nothing is mundane…
How robust she has become! How delicate still!
birthday girlblanketblue titsbutterfliesdelicateducksmuffledmundanenesting boxparty guestsphotoPoohPostman Patremoterobustspira mirabilisspiralsplayedsycamoreThe Glasshousetripodunequivocalwonder
What do you think?